Saturday, March 23, 2013

Back in November last year Ms R and I went to the Chanel Black Jacket Exhibition at Walsh Bay. The exhibition housed 100 photographs from the book "Little Black Jacket" by Karl Lagerfeld and Carine Roitfeld. The photographs are hang in the darkness of a Walsh Bay warehouse. The photographs celebrate the iconic design that is a black Chanel jacket. Collarless tweed, bit boxy and silvery buttons. Each celebrity/model/it-girl/designer/musician in the photographs are wearing the jacket. All photographed by Lagerfeld and styled by Roitfield. The perfect match. My favourite photograph? Too many. I don't have the book yet. Oh and the jacket... one day.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Ear cuffs have been popping up around the place over the last year or so. I was bit funny about them initially. Belatedly, I now really want one. I can't seem to find many around apart from some amazing ones by Ryan Storer. Not wanting to spend much on something I probably won't get much wear of. Especially drooling at the one worn by Lara Bingle.

Edited to add - I now know the lovely ear cuffs are by Sarina Suriano. They will be selling soon online on Dark Horse. The ear cuffs were made especially for Lara to wear to the Caulfield Cup.

Sunday, March 3, 2013

The last Paris post, oh no! One thing I loved about staying close to River Seine was the market stalls by the River. Each day we would manage to stroll past and have a look. I could stay there for hours looking at everything. Given Paris was at the early part of our trip one had to control themselves from going bit too crazy. Many of our purchases have been framed and hanged in our living room. We bought lots but looking at these photos reminds me of many more items I wish I purchased. There's always next time!

Vintage post card with the River Seine

Vintage Vogue Magazine Cover

Coasters

Femmes a une terrasse de cafe by Roger-Viollet. Love love this.

Vintage French Postcard. This is hanging up on my pin board in my office at work.

Dukkah is a great little spice mixture that originated from Egypt. Even with an Egyptian background I don't recall ever eating it as a child. Strange given my mum cooks everything and anything. It's super easy to make and great to have around to serve with some trusty extra virgin olive oil and crusty bread. Alternatively, I've been having it with scrambled eggs and truffle oil. So good! It's also great to add to salads or as a rub to meats.

Ingredients

110g (2/3 cup) hazelnuts

80g (1/2 cup) sesame seeds

2 tablespoon coriander seeds

2 tablespoon cumin seeds

2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 teaspoon flaked sea salt

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees.

2. Place the hazelnuts on a baking tray. Cook for 3-4 minutes or
until toasted. Remove the skin off the hazelnuts by rubbing between a clean tea
towel. Try to remove as much skin as possible. This is the annoying part of the recipe. Be patient.

3. In a food processor place the toasted hazelnuts and process until
coarsely chopped. Transfer to a large bowl.

4. Heat a frying pan over medium heat. Add the sesame seeds and
cook, stirring, for 1-2 minutes or until golden. Add the sesame seeds in the
bowl with the hazelnuts.

5. Place coriander seeds and cumin seeds in frying pan over medium
heat, and cook. Stir frequently for 1-2 minutes or until aromatic and seeds
begin to pop. Pound the coriander seeds and cumin seeds in the pestle and
mortar until finely crushed.

6. Add the crushed spices, pepper and salt to the hazelnut mixture
and mix well.